He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. —Daniel 3:25
We have heard this biblical account in history since we were able to sit in Sunday school class and listen to our teacher — who likely wore opaque stockings, cat-eye glasses, and a blue bun on the back of her head – as she told us about the fourth man in the fire.
Of course, the account always was told the same. Yet they never seemed to mention one interesting fact. Nebuchadnezzar asked the question, “Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” But we were never told that the Hebrew boys didn’t see the fourth man. Only the worldly King did.
I don’t know what fire you are going through or that you feel life has thrown you into. It becomes easy for us to complain and ask, “Why is this happening to me?” Have you ever thought, this is not about you? It is about revealing to the world who is in control of our situations. Like Joseph said to his brothers, you meant this for evil, but God meant it for good.
You may not see Jesus in what you are going through right now, but I assure you the world does. So, keep your chin up, shoulders square, hands lifted high in praise, and your voice raising thanksgiving to God. Just because you don’t see Jesus doesn’t mean He is not there. He is the reason you are loose and not consumed, even though you are still in the midst of the fire.
Our prayer for you this week: May you come to realize the world sees Jesus in the heat of your circumstance.
